Messi feels Manchester City players will be "screwed" if the ban stays

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi believes it would be “screwed” if Manchester City’s players were banned from playing in the Champions League for two years. 

Last week City were hit with a two-year ban from European competition by UEFA for “serious breaches” of Financial Fair Play regulations following an investigation.

The Citizens, who are accused of “overstating sponsorship revenue” between 2012 and 2016, have denied any wrongdoing and have appealed against it at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. 

However, if the ban sticks, it would cast doubts over the futures of great players such as Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero, who is also a good friend of Messi. 

The City players though have stood in support of the club along with their manager Pep Guardiola.

Messi while talking to Mundo Deportivo said, “It is surprising because nobody thought that such a thing could happen, so powerful. PSG paid a fine or I don’t know how it went." 

"If in the end City does not play in the Champions League for what it is, with the players, the club and the money it spends, it will be weird.”

He also said, “The Champions League is very attractive so two years without playing it can be screwed.”

Manchester City face Real Madrid in the last 16 of this season’s competition, with their Premier League rivals Liverpool having already lost to another club from the city in their first leg.

Atletico just became the third team to defeat the Reds this season when they claimed a 1-0 success in Spain on Tuesday but according to Messi, a tough competition was already anticipated. 

Messi said, “On the day of the draw we talked in the dressing room that it would be very close because Atletico compete a lot in this competition." 

"In duels of two matches, they are very strong and they showed it again, that they will complete and they will be there.”

featured image credits- goal.com